Namibia PDNA 2009 - GFDRR

Potential indirect impacts
from relief activities
Displacement camps observed in Caprivi had basic waste
and sanitation facilities, but these were small and spread
throughout the camp, rather than having centralized facilities
located apart from the regular living space. The issue is
relatively minor due to the size of the camps and the generally
modest waste production, but they do present some risks,
nevertheless, particularly in relation to environmental health. In
Schuckmannsburg, the repetitively relocated population from
surrounding villages is placing a chronic (though not yet acute)
strain on local fuel wood resources. In such locations, where
seasonal displacement is essentially an annual event, there are
opportunities for a more planned approach taking into account
environmental needs. Options would include:
• reduction of displacement by meeting needs
within out-lying villages;
• development of more regular seasonal
camp facilities, including provision for waste
management, sanitation and alternative cooking
fuel in the design; and
• strengthening the coping ability of
Schuckmannsburg residents, e.g. increasing the
supply of fuel wood by coppicing.
These issues are dealt with more comprehensively in the
sections relating to camp management, and the needs are not
replicated here.
The additional solid waste disposal facility developed in part to
receive flooding debris in Oshakati should be upgraded to a
suitably engineered landfill, resistant to future flooding, rather
than simply replicating existing open dump sites.
In the wider perspective, major programmes are needed to
address both land degradation and solid waste management
in the north-central region. Various NGO and Government
activities are already underway to address the former, and
some efforts have also been made to prevent unregulated
dumping of refuse in the oshanas. Complete solutions will
require significant and long-term financial commitments, and
are beyond the scope of the actions that can realistically be
incorporated into the recovery programme for the specific
flood event in question.
Environmental impact mitigation during
reconstruction
In the absence of any large-scale engineered approaches to
flood management [the key potential impact in reconstruction
will be over-exploitation of local forests for housing timber,
especially in the North Central region where the level of damage
was much higher and scant timber resources are already highly
stressed. It has been calculated that traditional homesteads in
the oshanas used more than 100m3 of construction timber,
and a single home could consume more than 1,000 small local
trees. That level of local timber consumption is simply no longer
feasible, but with a total of around 25,000 full traditional home
equivalents requiring reconstruction in the area, remaining
forest resources are threatened with a severe impact.
Housing reconstruction programmes must encourage the use
of and make available alternate construction materials, as well as
ensuring that what timber is used is sourced appropriately. This
topic is discussed in detail under the housing sector report.
Governance issues
The greatest need for policy changes related to the environment
sector concern improving river basin management and turning
around the pattern of environmental degradation in the
oshanas. These topics are beyond the scope of this section and
this report, respectively.
In relation to the direct environmental impacts covered in
this section, a small but significant policy change would be to
ensure that road specialists from the Ministry of Works and
Transport have some involvement in the oversight of road
(re-)construction in the national parks to ensure these are
designed and constructed to appropriate drainage and load
specifications.
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